Integrated System Providing Proxy Voice mail and Switching Functionality

Abstract

Integrating proxy voice mail server (PVMS) and a switch/router into a single unit. According to another aspect, the PVMS downloads voice mail messages (related to users served in PVMS) when bandwidth utilization is below a pre-specified threshold. According to another aspect, previously recorded voice mail messages are uploaded to a central VMS (CVMS) also when the bandwidth utilization is below a pre-specified threshold. According to one more aspect, the voice mail messages stored locally in a PVMS are provided to a user (instead of from the CVMS) when the bandwidth utilization is above a threshold.

1 . An integrated server comprising: 
 a switching block receiving a plurality of packets and determining a specific one of a plurality of paths on which to forward each of said plurality of packets; and    a proxy voice mail server block (PVMS block) operating as a backup to a central voice mail server (CVMS), wherein said PVMS block receives some of said plurality of packets from said PVMS via said switching block.    
     
     
         2 . The integrated server of  claim 1 , wherein said PVMS block retrieves a plurality of voice mail message stored in said CVMS and provides said plurality of voice mail messages to a user said PVMS is configured to serve.  
     
     
         3 . The integrated server of  claim 2 , wherein said PVMS block is connected to said CVMS by a communication link, wherein said PVMS synchronizes voice mail messages when bandwidth utilization on said communication link is below a threshold.  
     
     
         4 . The integrated server of  claim 3 , further comprising a memory to store said voice mail messages, wherein said PVMS block receives a request to access a voice mail message from a user and forwards said request to said CVMS only when bandwidth utilization on said communication is below a threshold.  
     
     
         5 . A method of providing voice mail services to a user, said method being performed in a proxy voice mail server (PVMS) which operates as a backup to a central VMS (CVMS), said method comprising: 
 monitoring a bandwidth utilization on a communication path connecting said PVMS to said CVMS; and    downloading a plurality of voicemail messages from said CVMS if said bandwidth utilization is below a threshold.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 receiving a call to said user, wherein said call is terminated at said PVMS when said CVMS is not accessible to terminate said call;    recording a voice mail message on said PVMS; and    uploading said voice mail message to said CVMS if said bandwidth utilization is below said threshold.    
     
     
         7 . A method of providing voice mail services to a user, said method being performed in a proxy voice mail server (PVMS) which operates as a backup to a central VMS (CVMS), said method comprising: 
 monitoring a bandwidth utilization on a link connecting said PVMS to said CVMS;    receiving a request from said user to access a plurality of voicemail messages; and    forwarding said request to said CVMS if said bandwidth utilization is below a threshold and providing a plurality of messages to said user from a local secondary storage otherwise.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of voicemail messages are downloaded from said CVMS when said bandwidth utilization is below another threshold.